Namibia: Govt Extends Rail Link Into Angola

The Namibian (Windhoek), 6 October 2008

The government will extend the northern rail link into Angola for one kilometre to allow goods destined for that country to be offloaded on its territory. This was decided on to reduce congestion at the Oshikango border post.

Cabinet resolved to construct the railway station yard for Oshikango directly on the common border, which is a deviation from the original site originally identified in 2003.

The total cost for the development of the railway station area and access roads to the station will amount to N$7,6 million, while the extension of the line into Angola will cost N$8,5 million.

"In line with the promotion of one-stop border posts in the SADC region and to facilitate the movement of goods and people, the Ministry of Works and Transport proposed the construction of the railway station yard on the Namibia-Angola border," said the latest Cabinet briefing paper released on Friday.

Similarly, Cabinet approved the Ministry's proposal that the railway line extension is constructed for a length of one kilometre into Angola, while Angola is still arranging to construct its railway line to the common border.

"This will ensure that cargo destined for the Angolan market is transhipped or offloaded on the Angolan side of the border instead of the Namibian side.

This will reduce the traffic congestion currently experienced at the present border post," the paper noted.

The one kilometre extension will however only go ahead once "final written confirmation" is received from the Angolan government.

Most of the required earthworks and embankments for Phase 2 are already completed, while the manufacturing of sleepers is completed and the manufacturing of ballast and road-over-rail bridges is at an advanced stage.

Phase 1 of the N$900 million northern railway from Tsumeb to Ondangwa was completed in 2006.